Did you know that it can cost a lot of money to file for bankruptcy? If you didn’t, don’t fret as not many people are prepared for this financial burden. These costs might be hard especially for low-income families. However, there are different bankruptcy assistance options available to help these low-income families pay for a bankruptcy lawyer. In this article, we will discuss the different bankruptcy aids available for those who cannot pay for a bankruptcy lawyer.
Ways of Assisting People Who Cannot Pay for a Bankruptcy Lawyer
Filing for Bankruptcy by Yourself
The law does not require you to have a lawyer if you want to file for bankruptcy. Different factors determine whether it is in your best interest to get a lawyer such as the complexity of your bankruptcy, and the type of bankruptcy you are filing for. If you do not have a lot of income or property, you can file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy successfully without an attorney.
However, you need to perform extensive research on the different laws, rules, procedures as well as complete the different forms if you want to file for bankruptcy on your own. If you get into trouble while doing this on your own, severe consequences might be the result which is why proper care has to be taken when filing without a lawyer. You should talk to a bankruptcy lawyer before filing to avoid issues.
Legal Aid Services
To qualify for legal aid services, your family income must be really low –i.e. less than 125% of the poverty guidelines of the country or not more than 200% above the poverty line considering several other factors. If you cannot afford to get a bankruptcy attorney, you can get help from legal aid services. This way, you can file for bankruptcy seamlessly.
Legal Clinics
If you can’t afford a bankruptcy lawyer, you can get your law-related questions answered by professionals in legal clinics. These clinics are offered by a lot of local bar associations and some law schools. You can get any bankruptcy assistance and advice from these clinics to help you when you want to file for bankruptcy.
Get a Pro Bono Attorney
There are quite a few attorneys that offer pro bono services to individuals from low-income families. If you qualify as a low-income individual, you can find a lawyer to help you with your case for free. All you have to do is to consult different lawyers to find out if they offer pro bono services.
Payment Plans
For people who don’t qualify to get pro bono services, they can request a payment plan after they meet a qualified pro bono lawyer. Most times, first-time consultations do not require fees so you can schedule an appointment and find out if the attorney is up for payment plans. Most attorneys offer this so it is important that you at least get that appointment to find out.
If you are considering bankruptcy, but you think you cannot afford the services of a qualified attorney, you may be surprised to know that these services are available to you. Elias Dsouza of Dsouza Legal Group has the knowledge and experience to assist you with bankruptcy. Contact Elias today for a free consultation.